Rudolf Hiltner, 5.ZG1

[Larry deZeng]

Who were the enemies on 23. Feb.?
Karl

II./ZG 1 based at Wels on 23 February 1944. Kommandeur: Hptm. Egon Albrecht.

February 23, 1944 AUSTRIA: Eighty-one Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack an aircraft assembly plant at Steyr, and 21 B-24s demolish much of the Steyr factory responsible for 10 percent of Germany's anti-friction ball-bearing production. Although the bombing results are excellent, the bomber force is attacked over the Alps during the withdrawal by an estimated 120 GAF fighters, and it sustains the Fifteenth Air Force's worst one-day loss ratio to date: 17 B-24s downed against just one Me-210 downed and two Bf-110s damaged by 14th Fighter Group P-38 escort pilots.

[Karl]

Hello Larry,

thank you! Now I checked the Tony Wood- list and found quite a lot of claims for JG3, JG27 and even for ZG1 in this area.

Also: "Fifteenth Air Force dispatched heavy-bombers to the Steyr industries: 102 B-24s dropped 214.0 tons, 21 B-24s dropping 52.0 tons on the ball-bearing plant at Steyr-Wälzlagerwerk. Forces encountered 1 2 0 - plus, primarily from JaFü Ostmark, which accounted for 17 B-24s before the P -3 8s met the force on
the return"

Once again: Thanks a lot to all

Karl

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

17 B-24s downed against just one Me-210 downed and two Bf-110s damaged by 14th Fighter Group P-38 escort pilots.

Does somebody know names of the further victims of the Me210 / Me110´s downed/damaged?

Karl